The old Allegheny Social Hall One night it wasnt so social when some one showed up with an Uzi and still a mystery to this day

The Allegheny Social hall was the place to be on Concord Street in Pittsburgh's Duetch Town section of the North Side  back in the day when all the Big Bands where touring  and there where social events almost every night of the week from Bingo to the basement Bowling Alley to union rally's  when there was not dancing.
It had a bar almost 50 ft  long at one time and a  intricate wooden chandelier 35 ft in diameter  till roof collapsed and it was destroyed.  The place is rumored to be haunted as workmen cleaning the place always got an uneasy feeling when working in there  in particular the basement but I never observed such activity. But I could just stand and imagine the big bands playing and people dancing as you stood on the dance floor it had to be an exciting experience I would have loved to experience back in the day.

Unfortunately thou the popularity of such places went down hill in the 60's and like most places it slid down hill as well to become more of a sleazy after hours club where Rocco let you in the door only if he knew you.
 .


But one night in particular March 10,1984 would never be forgotten when a group of  2 or more men showed up outside and shot the place up with an Uzi sub machine gun. you can still see bullet marks where the shots hit the front of the club Luckily none of the bullets hit there mark and no one was hurt .




Bullet holes can be seen left of door way


No one was ever charged and shooting has gone unsolved to this day. But it is believed to have been some rivalry between drug gangs . After the shooting no one wanted to go there any more not even to just drink and it closed and was bought by a Dr. who stored all kinds of crap in it till a 
 a customer of mine Bruce Klein bought the building a few years back with hopes of moving his Photoantiquities Museum to it  and while researching the clubs history  I often wondered about the marks in the brick  hearing rumors about the shooting when I came upon the above article.  He has since cleaned up the interior fixed the collapsed roof and installed a security system and cameras  in hopes of one day making the building great again one day.  as it will make a great museum with its heavily reinforced floors once used for dancing .

No comments:

Post a Comment